Toxic from the top down - Anonymous employee Ketchum Employee Review

1.0
Jul 2, 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are some really smart, great people, and there is a lot of camradery. Flexible work environment. Decent pay for a comms agency but not competitive looking at everything they actually expect employees to do.

Cons

The culture is toxic and insidious from the top down. The leadership team is full of long haulers that won't hear a word against the current way things are done. I'm not sure the global CEO actually even does anything but spout hard to stomach toxic positivity. The new North American CEO seemed promising at first but is incredibly out of touch. In one breath senior leadership says 'we are a family,' in the next it is incessant bad mouthing about colleagues, blame gaming and backstabbing. WLB doesn't exist here. You'll be doing about 3 other jobs than what you signed up for. The better you are at your job the more this is true. Your reward for good work is more work, not more money or promotion.

Explore other reviews about Ketchum

5.0
Oct 2, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wonderful growth opportunities, supportive managers, work autonomy

Cons

Takes a long time to get a promotion or a raise; required to work in an office three days a week (although the times are flexible)

3.0
Apr 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart people, nice colleagues to learn and grow with. People are invested in each other despite contraints from the agency.

Cons

-Benefits keep getting worse with every year (mergers, acquisitions, holding firm in a bad economy affect all this) -Not much of a defined company culture or competitive advantage here. I fail to see what makes this place better or more special than any other agency.

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